Letters | Living wills, Mitch McConnell, discrimination

Supporters of same-sex marriage outside the U.S. Supreme Court last year.

Living wills

As a physician working in a hospital, I frequently see patients unable to make health care decisions because of injury or illness. Without an advance directive (a legal document telling physicians who has the authority to make health care decisions on your behalf), Kentucky revised statute 311.631 defines who has that right.

Same-sex couples are not recognized in this hierarchy and should take steps to execute an advance directive, especially when a partner would be the desired decision-maker. I encourage every citizen to execute an advance directive. A Kentucky living will can be found on the Internet and is valid when notarized or witnessed by 2 qualifying individuals. The most important step: a conversation with your loved ones. Go to the conversationproject.org for more information on how to get started.

LORI EARNSHAW, MD

Louisville 40207

McConnell ad

I just saw a campaign ad for Mitch McConnell that claims that he will clean up "the Obamacare mess." This makes me wonder what he has been doing for 30 years, even as our health care system became a horror story for millions of uninsured, and for families who lost everything due to the high costs of medical care. Does he really plan to scrap the current plan and start over, as he has claimed? Will this mean that the millions who have benefited from lower costs and greater access to insurance due to the Affordable Care Act will be back where they were before?

I suggest taking anything he says with a grain of salt, unless he lets us know a specific plan to replace the ACA. Let's also ask him why, if he is irreplaceable as a power player in Washington, why Kentucky farmers, miners, workers, teachers, students and others are all worse off than they were 30 years ago. Who has really been the beneficiary of all his power?

HERBERT DELEGAL

Louisville 40205

Veiled hatred

I am overwhelmed with the veiled hatred of many Christians in their view of our brothers and sisters within the LBGT community. The stories of such rejection cause so much pain to so many. My religious values support the belief that all people are loved by God and should be welcomed in our churches. Jesus, welcomed and loved all. Can we do less? I am grateful that I attend a church, Fourth Avenue United Methodist Church, which welcomes and supports all people. I invite you to Fourth and St. Catherine Streets on any Sunday morning at 10:45 a.m. and participate in one of the community's most inclusive church services.

APRIL DUVAL

Louisville 40223

Louisville, Kentucky • Southern Indiana

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Letters | Living wills, Mitch McConnell, discrimination

As a physician working in a hospital, I frequently see patients unable to make health care decisions because of injury or illness.